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VIGNAL HAPPY AT ANFIELD CHANCE

By Patrick Haond

LIVERPOOL defender Gregory Vignal has revealed that he was amazed that his old club Montpellier refused to play him, even after they suffered relegation to the French Second Division.

The 19-year-old said he jumped at the chance to join Gerard Houllier's side&nbsp;after Montpellier did not give him an opportunity, despite him being part of the French Under-18 team that won the European Championships.

"I was nothing in Montpellier and now I am first-team player in Liverpool," said Vignal.

"When a club is relegated in Second Division and they have a junior European Champion, if they don't play him at that moment, then they will never.&nbsp; They even didn't want me to train with the first-team, they never believed in me."

Vignal was delighted to make his league debut in the 3-0 win at home to West Ham as he originally moved to Liverpool as a&nbsp;transfer for the future.

"Before signing, I met Gerard Houiller who explained to me that he wanted me at the club for the future and planned for me to join the first-team after a-year-and-a-half," Vignal added.&nbsp;